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Middle East and North Africa

Russian to be offered in Syrian secondary schools as second foreign language

Fifth grade schoolchildren will be offered to choose either Russian or French

School in Damascus EPA

School in Damascus

BEIRUT, January 06, 21:16 /ITAR-TASS/. Syria’s ministry of education posted on its official website on Monday the government’s resolution to introduce classes in the Russian language into the secondary school curriculum as the second foreign language. Fifth grade schoolchildren will be offered to choose either Russian or French.

According to the ministry, the step stems from the since "sympathies to Russia, from the interest to its great culture". “All necessary preparations for the launching of the Russian language programme at Syrian schools will be completed by the next academic year,” Minister of Education Hazwan al-Wazz said.

Meanwhile, the ministry enrolls Russian language teachers. There are more than 20,000 mixed families in Syria, where the wife or the husband is Russian. More than one generation of Syrians received higher education in the former Soviet Union and in Russia.

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Middle East and North Africa

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